FDA: Costco E. coli Outbreak Linked to Farm’s Vegetable Mix

In cooperation with the Taylor Farms voluntary recall of products containing celery that may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7, Safeway’s Northern California and Western Nevada stores are voluntarily recalling two Signature Cafe items that contain celery supplied by Taylor Farms. Those people live in California (1), Colorado (4), Missouri (1), Montana (6), Utah (5), Virginia (1), and Washington state (1).

Nearly a third of the patients sickened by a recent E. coli outbreak linked to chicken salad purchased at Costco stores nationwide came from Montana.

Costco uses one supplier, Taylor Farms, for those vegetables in the chicken salad sold in all its USA stores.

Costco announced that has stopped the sale of chicken salad.

The outbreak was linked to Taylor Farms Pacific Inc. from Tracy, CA.

So far, 19 people have gotten sick in seven states and five have been hospitalized.

The foods range from Thai-style salads to packed dinners and wraps, and they’re sold at Starbucks, Target, Costco and a number of other outlets, the FDA said.

UPI has a statement from Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University, who commented on the seriousness of this E. Coli outbreak. This is one of those strains of E. coli that can result in subsequent kidney failure, especially among children.

Fortunately no deaths have been reported as a result of the infections, even though this particular strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can be life-threatening.

Chipotle made a decision to voluntarily close 43 of its restaurants in OR and Washington after the outbreak. Illness can be severe and include diarrhea, often bloody, and abdominal cramps.